The pilot, co-pilot and two vendors were killed when the aircraft struck a market stall at 9:09 a.m. local time (0539 GMT), said the report.
Four ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene, Fars quoted Ali Nasiri, head of the provincial emergency medical services organization, as saying.
Mansour Shishehforoush, director general of Isfahan’s crisis management department, told the official news agency IRNA that a technical failure caused the incident.
“This is a setback and a message we did not want to send today, but the work continues,” Kallas told a news conference after talks in Brussels, adding that she also decided to cap the size of the Russian Mission in the EU at 40 people.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said on Monday that Budapest has made clear in the meeting that it will not support or approve the planned sanctions package, and will also block an EU proposal to provide Ukraine with a 90-billion-euro (106-billion-U.S. dollar) loan.
Szijjarto said Hungary will not support any EU decision that benefits Ukraine as long as Kyiv continues to halt oil deliveries to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
The Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Central Europe via Ukraine, has faced repeated disruptions since last year amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Hungary has stated that although there are currently “no practical or technical obstacles,” Ukraine has decided not to restart crude deliveries.
The ICC said the hearing will last four days. During Monday’s session, the Prosecution, the Defence, and the Legal Representatives of Victims delivered oral submissions, outlining their arguments on whether the case should proceed to trial.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity. The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that he committed the crimes charged. If one or more charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber for the next phase of proceedings. The court is expected to issue its decision within 60 days after the conclusion of the hearing.
The 80-year-old Duterte did not attend the hearing in The Hague. Although the judges found him fit to participate in the proceedings, they separately granted a defence request to excuse his personal attendance at the hearing.
Earlier, his legal team had requested an indefinite adjournment of proceedings, including the confirmation hearing, arguing that he was unfit to participate. In response, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I appointed three independent medical experts to examine his condition and received their reports on Dec. 5, 2025. On Jan. 26, 2026, the Chamber concluded that, based on the medical assessments, Duterte “is able to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings.”
Duterte served as president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He was arrested and transferred to ICC custody in March 2025 under a warrant linked to his controversial anti-drug campaign, a move he has challenged. His initial appearance before ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I took place on March 14, 2025, and on Nov. 28, 2025, the court rejected an appeal seeking his release on grounds of age and declining health.
Under the revised structure, individuals in the first level are required to contribute Rwf4,000 annually, an amount fully covered by the Government. Those in the second level of social registry pay Rwf3,000 per year, supplemented by a Rwf1,000 government contribution. Members in the third, fourth and fifth categories contribute Rwf 5,000, Rwf8,000 and Rwf20,000 respectively per person per year.
The Order also maintains a co-payment system for services received through Mutuelle de Santé. Beneficiaries pay Rwf200 when receiving care at health centers and primary clinics, and 10 percent of treatment costs at hospital level. However, individuals classified as indigent are exempt from these co-payments.
The Prime Minister’s Order issued on February 16, broadens the range of contributors supporting the scheme. Banking institutions and general insurance providers have now joined the list of entities required to support Mutuelle de Santé financially. The order, published on February 23, 2026, had earlier been reviewed and approved by Cabinet on January 17, 2025.
The order confirms that funding for the scheme comes from multiple sources, including the Government, employees in both public and private sectors, health insurers, telecommunications companies, petrol and gas oil trade companies, general insurance providers and banks. Direct government support amounts to Rwf 6 billion annually from the national budget, in addition to targeted subsidies for people in the first and second levels of the social registry.
Further public contributions are drawn from a range of regulatory and service-related revenues. Half of the fees collected for the registration of pharmaceutical products, medical devices and food products are channeled into the scheme through the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority.
Revenue from vehicle mechanisation inspection and a share of traffic fines collected by the Rwanda National Police also support the system, alongside penalties imposed on traders dealing in substandard goods. Additional funding is generated through parking fees collected by the City of Kigali, a share of tourism revenue, and charges applied to vehicle and motorcycle ownership transfers.
Employee participation remains a central component of the financing model. Workers in both public and private sectors contribute 0.5 percent of their net salary, which employers deduct and remit monthly to the Mutuelle de Santé fund.
Health insurance providers operating in Rwanda contribute five percent of their annual premiums, while telecommunications companies provide three percent of their yearly turnover. General insurance companies contribute five percent of annual pre-tax profits, and banking institutions contribute two percent of their annual profit before tax.
Institutions are required to transfer their contributions within 30 days following the close of their financial year. Where audits reveal underpayment, the concerned entity must settle the outstanding amount and may face an administrative fine equivalent to 200 percent of the unpaid contribution.
Together, the revised contribution levels and expanded funding base are intended to strengthen the sustainability of Rwanda’s community-based health insurance system.
The commitment was underscored during a high-level customer engagement forum hosted by NCBA in Musanze, which brought together senior government officials, provincial leadership, business owners, investors, faith leaders, and entrepreneurs from across the Northern Province.
Held at Grotta Resort, the engagement served both as a platform for dialogue and a reaffirmation of partnership as Musanze continues to emerge as one of Rwanda’s most dynamic growth centers.
The Governor of the Northern Province, Maurice Mugabowagahunde, graced the event and expressed appreciation for NCBA’s continued collaboration.
“In Musanze, we are proud to be the heart of the country’s tourism economy, but we have even bolder ambitions to become a commercial hub that attracts investment in real estate, trade, and hospitality.
Partnering with NCBA will enable entrepreneurs to invest in new infrastructure while supporting implementation of our master plan, ultimately driving economic growth across the region,” he noted.
Addressing stakeholders during the engagement, Maurice Toroitich, Managing Director of NCBA Bank Rwanda, emphasized the bank’s role in aligning financing solutions with regional development priorities.
“NCBA’s role is to align financing solutions with Musanze’s development ambitions. We are here to reaffirm our readiness to support Musanze in scaling both rapidly and responsibly while contributing to Rwanda’s broader economic vision,” he said.
Within three years of operations in Musanze, NCBA has deepened relationships with customers and local institutions. The bank currently finances developers investing in hospitality infrastructure, SMEs expanding operations, contractors driving construction activity, and entrepreneurs building businesses that sustain the local economy.
Musanze’s growth reflects Rwanda’s broader national vision of balanced regional development, where secondary cities evolve into sustainable economic centers supported by investment, infrastructure, and enterprise.
As the city’s skyline continues to rise, and its economic potential expands, NCBA reiterated its commitment to working alongside government, investors, and communities to ensure the city’s growth remains structured, inclusive, and sustainable. The evening concluded with renewed partnership among stakeholders united by a shared vision for Musanze’s continued progress.
Connecting Musanze to regional opportunity
As part of a regional banking group operating across five African markets and serving over 60 million customers, NCBA encouraged entrepreneurs in Musanze to extend their ambitions beyond geographic boundaries.
The Bank’s Head of Business, Samuel Nkubito, highlighted NCBA’s strengthened regional trade and advisory capabilities, positioning Musanze-based enterprises to access cross-border trade opportunities and investment linkages across East and West Africa.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for NCBA leadership to reassure clients of ongoing investments aimed at improving service delivery and digital banking performance.
As businesses increasingly rely on digital transactions and real-time liquidity management, the bank confirmed that enhanced mobile and corporate internet banking platforms will soon be introduced to strengthen reliability, efficiency, and overall customer experience.
The open forum allowed customers to directly share feedback with senior leadership, reinforcing transparency, trust, and relationships built since the establishment of the Musanze branch.
Mobile Money–to–Bank integration remains a strategic priority, particularly for SMEs and traders whose daily operations depend on seamless digital payments. NCBA confirmed continued collaboration with ecosystem partners to improve performance and stability across these critical transaction channels.
NCBA Bank Rwanda is a subsidiary of NCBA Group, a regional banking group providing a broad range of financial products and services to corporate, institutional, SME, and consumer banking customers.
NCBA Group operates 115 branches across five countries; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Côte d’Ivoire, serving over 60 million customers and ranking among Africa’s largest banking groups by customer numbers.
In Rwanda, NCBA operates branches in Kigali, Musanze, Nyagatare, Rubavu, Kayonza, and Rusizi. Through its partnership with MTN Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd on MoKash, NCBA has reached over 6 million customers, making it the country’s largest retail digital bank and a key catalyst for financial inclusion.
With the midterm elections approaching later this year, Trump is using this high‑profile speech as an opportunity to defend his record and rally support from Americans who remain sceptical about the direction of the country.
Domestically, Trump’s approval ratings have slipped as inflation and cost‑of‑living concerns continue to trouble many households. Recent data shows the U.S. economy has slowed more than expected, and the public is worried about job security and everyday expenses, forcing the president to try to reassure voters that his policies are working.
At the same time, a Supreme Court decision invalidating his global tariff program has undercut one of his signature economic strategies, and the impasse over immigration enforcement has led to parts of the Department of Homeland Security being temporarily shut down.
Internationally, the Trump administration is confronting rising tensions, particularly with Iran, where U.S. military assets have been repositioned amid ongoing nuclear disputes and regional instability. These foreign affairs challenges add to the pressure on Trump to present a confident and persuasive vision of U.S. leadership to both domestic and global audiences.
White House aides and Republican strategists see the State of the Union as a critical moment to shift the narrative, encouraging Trump to focus on economic gains such as stock market performance and tax cuts, even as polls show mixed public confidence in those outcomes. Trump is also expected to highlight his administration’s border policies, including deportation and enforcement efforts, despite controversy around these issues.
The address is expected to be lengthy and somewhat unscripted, a style Trump has used before giving him room to cover a wide range of topics and reinforce his message to voters ahead of the November elections. However, his administration’s troubles from economic discontent to geopolitical uncertainty will likely shape how the speech is received and influence the broader political climate in the months to come.
Trump prepares to address the nation at a critical moment, with economic challenges and political tensions shaping his upcoming State of the Union speech.
Officers arrested the 72-year-old Mandelson at an address in Camden on Monday, and he has been taken to a London police station for interview, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said.
“This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas,” the spokesperson said via a statement published online, adding that they were not able to provide further information to “prevent prejudicing the integrity of the investigation.”
In late January, the U.S. Justice Department made public a large cache of files related to the dead American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, prompting renewed scrutiny in Britain. British police confirmed later that they had opened a criminal investigation into Mandelson over alleged misconduct while in public office, including the possible disclosure of market-sensitive information.
Mandelson previously served as a senior cabinet minister under former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He was appointed ambassador to Washington in early 2025 but was dismissed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after seven months as questions over his past resurfaced.
Earlier this month, Starmer apologized for his decision to appoint Mandelson as British ambassador to the United States.
Speaking at an event in the town of Hastings in southeast England, Starmer said he had underestimated the seriousness of Mandelson’s past association with Epstein. He offered an apology to victims connected to the Epstein case and said he understood the anger voiced across parliament.
Due to the Mandelson-Epstein scandal, Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, communications director Tim Allan, and Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Chris Wormald have all stepped down from their posts.
Located in Huye’s academic heartland, the museum doesn’t overwhelm; it gently guides. A gift from Belgium’s King Baudouin in the late 1980s, it has grown into one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections and remains a cornerstone of the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda.
Inside, Rwanda unfolds not through dates and timelines, but through the textures of daily life. The journey begins with the land itself, geology and geography that shaped how communities lived and thrived.
From there, visitors move through galleries filled with objects that once defined survival and creativity: farming tools worn smooth by use, finely woven baskets, elegant pottery, and woodwork that balances function with artistry.
There is a quiet poetry in the details. Traditional clothing reveals social identity; architectural models show how communities built harmony with their environment. One gallery explores the deep cultural significance of cattle, symbols of prosperity, social ties, and heritage that still resonate today. That living tradition continues nearby at the King’s Palace Museum, where descendants of the royal herd remain a powerful cultural link.
The final spaces shift from objects to meaning. Here, visitors encounter oral traditions, poetry, belief systems, and cosmology; the unseen threads that bind generations. It feels less like a museum room and more like listening to elders recount the foundations of a nation.
Outside, a vibrant craft centre brings continuity to the experience, showcasing artisans who carry tradition forward with contemporary expression.
For travelers exploring Rwanda beyond scenery, the Ethnographic Museum offers something deeper: context. It reveals how beauty, resilience, and identity are woven together, not only in landscapes, but in memory, craftsmanship, and living culture.
As Rwanda’s premier cycling event once again unites communities across the country, Prime Insurance remains committed not only to sport, but to youth empowerment, resilience, and long-term protection.
Eastern Province
During Stage One in the Eastern Province, Prime Insurance’s Commercial Director, Mike Byusa, called upon residents to safeguard their hard-earned investments, particularly property, through comprehensive property insurance solutions.
He emphasized that as families and entrepreneurs continue to build homes, businesses, and assets, protecting them is essential to ensuring sustainable progress.
Huye: 30 Years of progress and protection
As Prime Insurance celebrates its 30-year milestone, the company reflected on its journey alongside post-genocide Rwanda.
Over the past three decades, the country’s resilience and visionary leadership under President Paul Kagame have driven remarkable national transformation. Mike Byusa linked Prime’s 30-year journey to Rwanda’s broader story of renewal and growth.
While celebrating progress, he emphasized the responsibility to protect what has been achieved and inspire a young generation to carry the legacy forward.
“Beyond celebrating 30 years, our focus is on safeguarding the future. We must protect what has been achieved while inspiring young Rwandans to dream bigger and go further,” he noted.
Recognising loyalty and comprehensive protection in Huye
In Huye, Prime Insurance also recognised loyal clients originating from the region. Among them is Horizon Express, one of the country’s leading public transport companies, widely praised for its excellent service along the Huye–Kigali route.
Horizon Express entrusts Prime Insurance with its Motor Insurance portfolio as well as Medical Insurance cover for its employees — ensuring protection for both its fleet and its workforce.
Prime also highlighted the journey of Mr. Téléspore, an entrepreneur in the dining and entertainment industry who operates one of Kigali’s renowned restaurants, Burrows.
Initially insuring his motor vehicles with Prime, Mr. Téléspore, following engagement with Prime’s advisory teams, expanded his coverage to include Public Liability Insurance, Fire Insurance, and Medical Insurance.
This comprehensive protection now safeguards his growing business, its assets, employees, and customers.
In a symbolic gesture of partnership and community, Mr. Téléspore was invited to award the youngest rider of the stage, reinforcing the message that empowering youth is a shared responsibility.
Through its continued partnership with Tour du Rwanda, Prime Insurance champions youth, resilience, and protection, values that mirror both the spirit of cycling and Rwanda’s extraordinary journey.
As the race continues across the country, the message remains clear: protect the progress achieved and inspire the next generation to build even further.
The rewards, equivalent to 10% of the VAT paid on Electronic Invoicing System (EBM) invoices requested during October, November, and December 2025, include 157,020 consumers from the final quarter of the year. An additional nine consumers received a combined Rwf 7,091,931 for invoices from July–September 2025, following verification for individual rewards exceeding Rwf 500,000.
To date, the VAT Reward programme, known as Tengamara Na TVA, has distributed more than Rwf 3.7 billion to 370,147 beneficiaries.
The programme has not only provided financial rewards but also reinforced tax compliance and civic responsibility, according to Assistant Commissioner for Taxpayer Services and Communications, Jean Paulin Uwitonze.
He noted that the 157,029 beneficiaries for this quarter have contributed to the collection of more than Rwf 13 billion toward national development.
“Since the launch of this programme, participants have continued to experience tangible benefits. Beyond the rewards, the initiative strengthens civic responsibility and reinforces a culture of tax compliance,” he stated.
Uwitonze emphasised that rewards are granted only for invoices accrued by final consumers in the relevant quarter, provided traders have declared and paid the VAT. He urged both consumers and traders to comply with invoicing requirements, noting that failure to issue or request EBM invoices is a legal violation.
Tengamara Na TVA encourages consumers to request EBM invoices for every purchase, offering a 10% VAT reward and a share of penalties from non-compliant traders. The programme aims to promote transparency and shared responsibility in national development.
To qualify, consumers must register for the VAT reward programme by providing their name, a Rwandan mobile phone number, a Mobile Money or bank account, and a national ID. Registration can be done by dialing *800# or through the MyRRA platform. The same channels allow users to check their reward accounts and track issued invoices.
